Wolves have confirmed the death of their ex manager Sammy Chapman aged 81.

From memory his playing career was mainly at Portsmouth and Mansfield.

He spent two spells as boss at Molineux, one temporary, one permanent.

Despite Wolves being relegated to Division Four under him, Sammy will be fondly remembered by the few who watched Wolves back then.

He did the best he could under appalling ownership. He left Brian Little and Graham Turner some good signings. Andy Mutch for £5k from Southport in particular though Jon Purdue and Micky Holmes also stand out.

Having last played professionally in 1963, Chapman was banned from football following a bribes scandal in 1965.

The ban was ignored by the South African federation which had been suspended by FIFA and he played for East Rand United.

He returned to the game as a coach with Portsmouth and then Crewe Alexandra and as chief scout for Wolves, becoming interim manager following the dismissal of Tommy Docherty on 4th July 1985 after a second successive relegation saw Wolves in the Third Division.

He remained manager until Bill McGarry, previously manager 1968-76, returned on 4th September 1985. However, McGarry's return lasted just 61 days and he quit on 4th November with Chapman was restored as manager.

However, he was unable to prevent Wolves from suffering a third successive relegation which dragged them in to the Fourth Division for the first time. He left on 15th August 1986.

Chapman was a member of Northern Ireland's 1958 World Cup squad but not one of the 17 players that travelled to Sweden.